BT Sport launches UHD, HDR and Dolby Atmos channel

BT Sport is launching a new channel, BT Sport Ultimate, offering pictures and sound in UHD, HDR and Dolby Atmos Sound.

Launching in time for the new football season this month, BT Sport Ultimate replaces the BT Sport 4K UHD channel and is now available to BT TV customers and to EE 5G pay monthly customers.

BT said the service will soon extend to other BT Sport customers, such as EE 4G pay monthly customers and those who watch via the BT Sport App or via Sky.

BT Sport’s first live match in HDR will be this Sunday’s FA Community Shield clash between Liverpool and Manchester City.

Pete Oliver, managing director of marketing at BT’s consumer division, said: “The launch of BT Sport Ultimate means BT is first to market with the launch of a new innovation, allowing our customers to take the sports viewing experience on mobile to a level unmatched anywhere.”

News of the channel launch came as BT Sport also refreshed its Saturday programming line-up and announced a number of new presenters and pundits.

Former England striker Peter Crouch, former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole, and fellow Chelsea and England star Karen Carney are joining BT Sport as football analysts. They join former Arsenal and Netherlands forward Robin van Persie, recently confirmed as joining the BT Sport team which includes Rio Ferdinand, Steve McManaman, Glenn Hoddle, Rachel Brown-Finnis and Michael Owen.

Kicking off Saturdays on BT Sport will be new show Early Kick Off. Hosted by Jake Humphrey, Jules Breach and Robbie Savage, the 10am to midday show aims to set the agenda for the weekend to come.

BT Sport’s Saturday schedule then typically continues with:

- 12.00pm: exclusively live coverage of a Premier League game

- 2.45pm: BT Sport Score, the goals, news and analysis from the studio sofa

- 3pm: exclusively live coverage of a Gallagher Premiership Rugby match

- 5.15pm: exclusively live coverage of a Vanarama National League match

- 7.30pm: live show wrapping up all of the goals from the Vanarama National league –the earliest Saturday evening highlights show in the UK